Braemar is well served for castles. Kindrochit Castle was the first to be built in Braemar in 1067. Braemar Castle was the home of Clan Farquharson and is the only community-run castle in Scotland.

A ten minute drive from Braemar, Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the royal family since it was purchased by Queen Victoria. It is open from the beginning of April until the end of July when the Queen arrives for her summer holiday. Crathes Castle is just outside Banchory and has 240 hectares of garden and estate, as well as the Go Ape treetop adventure park. If you’ve still got the energy, the nearby Drum Castle, is home to a fine collection of historic roses.

To the east, Dunnotar Castle just outside Stonehaven, is perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the North Sea.